Motion sign or the like



Oct. 5, 1937. E. A. STORMAN MOTION SIGN OR THE LIKE 2 sheets-sh w 1 Filed May 24, 1935 Zdw Oqt. 5, 1937. E. A. STORMAN MOTION S IGN OR THE LIKE Filed May 24, 1935 2 'Sheets-Sheei 2 fiveni arx Patented Oct. 5, 1937 PATENT, OFFICE Marlon SIGN on, THE LIKE Edward A. Storman, Chicago, 111., assignor of forty-nine per cent to Peter A. Cavallo, Peter A. Cavallo, Jr., Elsie Schifferle Cavallo, and

M; Agatha- Cavallo Application ay 2411935, Serial No. 23,311

like.

An object of the invention is to provide a motion sign which may be caused to operate conf tinuously or discontinuously, control means being provided for varying the operation of the sign when operated discontinuously; 'A further object is to provide a motion sign equipped with compact operating mechanism adapted to be housed within a very narrow space, the sign being of such simple and light construction as tobe useful for window displays, advertising racks 'on vehicles, etc. A further object is to provide brush-propelled mechanism whereby the sign is 1' operated intermittently, the intervals of pause being controlled by .a second brush-operated member. will appear as the specification proceeds. The invention is illustrated, in its preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawings, in

which- I Figure 1 is a front view in elevation of a motion sign embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a rear view in elevation; Fig. 3, a rear view, with the operating mechanism all removed with the exception of the sign' disk; Fig. 4,- a broken sectional ,view, the section being taken as indicated at line 4. of Fig. 2,; Fig. 5, a broken detail sectional view, the'section being taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 4;

and Fig. 6, arear view in elevation of a modified ,Initheillustration given, A designates the side frame; B, the movable sign member; C,operating mechanism for rotating the sign; and D, control mechanism. i

The frame A may be of any suitable construcform of control disk.

tion. In the illustration given, it comprises a' front board III and a rear board II spaced apart by filler board I2; Each of the boards is preferably formed of cardboard, but may be of any other suitable material. As shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, the filler board I2 is cut away at I3 to provide a circular recess and the rear board I I is cut away at I4 to provide a small recess or The front board III, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1, is provided with an aperture I5 through which sign representations on the moving sign memberBbecome visible. The sign member'B may be of any suitable shape, type or construction. In the illustration given, it consists of a circular disk bearing on its outer face various types of representations which are adapted tobe brought into registration; with the aperture I5 when the disk B is rotated.- In

Other specific objects and advantages 13 Claims. (01. 40- 52 This invention. relates to a motion sign or'the;

the illustration given,the representations consist of numerals I6. On its rear face, the disk B is provided near its periphery with an interrupted. band II which may be formed of buckram or any other suitable mesh cloth or the like. The band 5 II is interrupted by recesses I8 extending inwardly from theedge of the sheet B. Spaced inwardly of recesses I8 and aligned therewith are patches IQ of buckram or other suitable material. Each recess I8 and its aligned area I9 fall within the 10' same sector when formed by imaginary lines drawnfrom the central axis of the disk. 7

A tubular member 20 has a front flange 2i) engaging the outer face of board III and is also equipped with a tubular neck 2| which extends 1 through aligned recesses in the board Ill and sign member B and rear wall I I. The front board III,

'sign disk B, rear board II, and control disk D areseparated by washers'22. The tubular neck 2| is interiorly threaded to receive the threaded 20- locking pin 23.

The operating mechanism D may be of any suitable type or construction. In the illustration given, I provide a crank arm 24 whichhas its. upper extremity turned to form a ring 25 through 25 which the shank of pin 23' extends. The crank arm 24 extends from the point of connection with ring 25 toward one side of the board I I in a substantially horizontal plane and is-then bent at right angles to form a vertical shank 26; The 30 lower end of shank 26 is looped about the movable arm 2] of the vibrator element 28. In view of the well known construction of the solenoidoperated vibrator element 28, a detailed description will not be given. In order to movably con- 35 finethe crank arm 24 in close relation to the board II, I loop an elastic rubber band 29 about the crank .24 at its bend and then secure the band to the rear board II by means of adhesiv tape 30. 40

Secured to the horizontal portion of crank 24 nearits bend is a brush element 3I'. The element. 3I,, as illustrated, comprises a cardboard support '32 which is grooved to receive the crank arm .24 and heldin rotatable position upon the 45 ram band ll on the rear surface of disk B. The brush ends in the position illustrated ratchet over the mesh cloth member I! when the crank arm 23 is moved downwardly, but engage the cloth to rotate the disk B when the arm 24 is moved upwardly.

The control disk D may be of any suitable construction. As illustrated, the disk D is provided adjacent one edge with a recess 35 which is adapted to be brought into alignment with a small aperture 36 in the rear board When the recess 35 and small aperture'36 are together, the separated cloth areas l9 are accessible from the rear of the control disk D and permit a second brush element 31 carried by the crank arm 33 to engage one of the areas I9. To the rear side of the control disk D and spaced to the inside of the recess 35 is a circular mesh cloth backing 38 which may be secured by adhesive to the disk D The brush 3'! is so mounted as to enable part of the bristles to continuously engage the mesh backing 38 and also the cloth mesh area I9 when the latter becomes exposedthrough the alignment of recess 35 with aperture 36. The brush 31 is the same in construction as brush 3|.

In Fig. 6, is illustrated a modified form of control disk D provided with two recesses 35.

In the operation of the device, the vibrator 28 is set into operation by closing a suitable switch (not shown) and the crank arm 24 is moved up wardly and downwardly in rapid succession, the confining elastic member 29 serving to hold the crank closely adjacent the rear board The brush member 3| ratchets over the buckram strip I! as the crank arm swings downwardly but engages the strip as the crank moves upwardly and moves the strip forwardly, thus bringing about a rotation of disk 13. When, however, the brushes reach one of the recesses l3, as shown more clearly in Fig. 5, the ends of the brush bristles reciprocate through the recess without effecting any movement of disk B. The brush 3| is thus rendered ineffective for producing further movement of disk B until the control mechanism D advances thedisk B sufficiently to bring another portion of the strip |1 into contact with the brush.

The brush 3? being constantly in engagement with the fabric backing 38 of control disk D, causes control disk D to rotate continuously. When the disk D has rotated to the point that recess 35 thereof becomes aligned with aperture 36 of the rear board l2, the bristles of brush 31 extend through the recess 35 and aperture 36 and engage one of the areas l9, thus operating to advance the disk B a short distance, but yet sufficiently to bring the next segment of fabric strip into engagement with the bristles of brush 3|. The brush 3| then continues to rotate the disk B until the next recess I8 is brought into register with brush 3|.

With the construction described, the various representations IE on disk B are brought into registration with aperture l and there caused to pause for a predetermined period of time. After the pause, the disk B is again rotated to bring the next representation into View from the front of the sign. With the control disk illustrated in Fig. the period of pause is substantially the same with respect to each of the representations; however, when the modified form of disk D illustrated in Fig. 6 is used, the period of pause will vary as to the representations. It will be understood that the periods can be varied aoeais widely through changes in the form of the control disk.

The motion sign is of simple and compact construction. The parts thereof are light and require very slight energy for operation. The entire sign may be flexed slightly without interfering with the operation of the parts, thus enabling the sign to be fitted into the curved sign racks on vehicles and in display windows.

It will be understood that instead of employing a vibrator of the type illustrated, any other suitable motor or actuating element may be employed, for example, actuating mechanism, as illustrated in my co -pending application Serial No. 710,186, for Motion sign or the like, filed February 7, 1934 may beemployed, such actuating mechanism being responsive to movements in a vehicle. Instead-of the vibrator, an ordinary small electric motor or the like may be used.

While in the foregoing illustration, I have shown certain specific mechanisms and arrangements of parts, it will be understood that wide departure from the specific forms illustrated may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. An exhibition device comprising: a frame, a sign member movably mounted thereon, means for moving said sign within discontinuously, and control means for initiating the movement of said sign during the intervals in which said firstmentioned means does not move said sign, said control means being effective also to maintain said sign in motion until it is moved by said firstmentioned means.

2. An exhibition device comprising: a frame, a sign member carried by said frame for movement thereon, means for moving said sign member discontinuously, a control member, means for moving said control member continuously, and means cooperating with said control member and sign member for initiating movement of said sign at a predetermined period after its movement by said first-mentioned means is discontinued, said control means being effective also to maintain said sign in motion until it is moved by said firstmentioned means.

3. An exhibition device comprising: a frame, a sign member rotatably mounted thereon, a fabric strip applied to one face of said sign member, brush means engaging said fabric strip, and means for moving said brush to effect rotation of said sign member, said means including a crank arm pivotally carried by said frame, and electrically operated means for reciprocating said crank.

4. An exhibition device comprising: a frame, a sign member movably supported thereby, said sign being provided with an interrupted band of fabric, a brush movably supported in contact with said band, means for actuating said brush to 'move said sign while said brush is in engagement with said band, and means for again bringing said brush into engagement with said band after the engagement of said brush with said band has been interrupted.

5. An exhibition device comprising: a frame, a sign member rotatably-mounted thereon, a fabric strip secured to said sign'member but having #5 6. An exhibition device comprising: a frame, a,

sign member'rotatably carried thereby, means for rotating said sign member discontinuously, a cona a predetermined interval.

ber rotatably mounted thereon and adapted upon rotation to bring. representations successively into registration with said aperture, a discontinuous fabric strip secured to the rear side of said 'sign'membena plurality of spaced fabric areas secured-also to the rear side of said sign member,

brush means adapted to engage said fabric strips, and a control member preventing the engagement of brush means with said spaced fabric areas except when the brush means is not in engagement'with the first-mentioned fabric strip.

8. In apparatus of the character set forth, a framemember, a sign member rotatably carried thereby, a broken fabric band secured to one side of said sign member, spaced fabric areas radially aligned with the spaces between said first-mentioned broken band, brush means for engaging said fabric band and said fabric areas, and continuously operated control means adapted to maintain said brush means out of contact with said fabric areas except during the interval when the brush means is not contacting said firstmentioned band.

9. In apparatus'of the character set forth, a frame, a sign member rotatably mounted thereon, a control member also rotatably mounted on said sign member, a broken fabric band secured V to said sign member, a plurality of spaced fabric patches secured-also .to said sign member, a

at intervals by spaces, fabric patches secured to the back of said sign member and in alignment with said spaces, a control member rotatably carried by said frame, a fabric stripapplied to said control member, a sheet between said control member and said sign member, said sheet being provided with an aperture aligned with said broken band and a second aperture aligned with said patches, said control member being also provided with an aperture adapted to be brought in line with said last-mentionedaperture, brushes having bristle ends adapted to extend through the apertures in said sheet and said control member to engage said broken band. and said fabric patches, and means for reciprocating said brushes. 7

11. In apparatus of the character set forth, a frame comprising spaced walls, one of said walls being provided with an aperture and the other of said walls being provided with a pair of spaced apertures, a sign member rotatably mounted in said frame and bearing on one side representations adapted tobe brought into registration with said first-mentioned aperture, said member beingalso provided on its rear sidewith spaced fabric bands, at least one of which is broken by spaces, a control member rotatably mounted adjacent the rear Wall of said frame and being provided with an aperture adapted to be aligned with one of said pairs of apertures, said control member being pro-vided with a fabric disk, brushes supported so as to have their ends extending through the apertures of said rear wall and said control member when the latter is aligned with one of said pairs of apertures, and means for reciprocating said brushes to bring the ends thereof into contact with said fabric bands.

7 12. In apparatus of the character set forth,- a frame, a pair of movably mounted members thereon, one of said members bearing representations adapted to be exposed to view successively, said members being provided on one side with roughened areas, brushes mounted soas to bring their ends into engagement with said roughened 7 surfaces, means for reciprocating said brushes tomove said members, and cooperating means associated With said movably mounted members for moving discontinuo usly said member-bearing representations thereon.

13. An exhibition device comprising: a flexible frame, a flexible sign member movably mounted thereon and bearing representations,

said sign member being provided on one side with a roughened surface, a tiltable brush member mounted for reciprocal movement so that its ends are brought in contact with said roughened surface, and electrically operated means carried by said frame for reciprocating said brush means.

EDWARD A. STORMAN. 

